Should I Let My Child Watch this Movie?

Last updated on: July 3, 2013 at 7:15 am By Katrina

I recently discovered a website called Plugged In, a site sponsored by Focus on the Family with the tagline, “Shining a light on the world of popular entertainment.” The website offers parents information about current movies, videos, movies, TV shows, and video games, allowing parents to make an informed decision about whether or not to expose their children to a particular movie, game, or show. For example, the movie reviews begin with a pretty extensive plot summary, followed by a... Read more

Pope Francis: Throwing Away Food is Like Stealing from the Poor

Last updated on: July 1, 2013 at 8:19 am By Katrina

In his weekly message at the beginning of June, Pope Francis urged all Catholics to think twice before wasting food. In his own words, “Throwing away food is like stealing from the table of the poor and hungry” (quote found here). Compared to our grandparents, who lived through the scarcity of the Depression and the World Wars, Pope Francis noted that we are so accustomed to having plenty that we have become used to “wasting food daily and we are... Read more

The Perfect Homemade Granola Bar?

Last updated on: June 28, 2013 at 3:50 pm By Katrina

My family is often on the go, and although we try to be home for mealtime we are often eating snacks in the car or at the park. Granola bars are an easy staple, but I prefer bars that are high either in protein or in fiber so that they having staying power in our systems. In the quest to find a nutritious and satisfying granola bar, I have tried a few homemade varieties. I like the fact that I... Read more

Pray for the Supreme Court this Morning

Last updated on: June 26, 2013 at 7:02 am By Katrina

Friends, the Supreme Court will be announcing its ruling this morning at 10 a.m. on two cases related to the definition and purpose marriage. The first of these cases involves DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act, which President Clinton signed into law in 1996 after Congress had passed it with overwhelming bipartisan majorities. The second case deals with California’s Proposition 8, a 2008 state constitutional amendment in which the citizens of California voted to define marriage as the union between one... Read more

At Least He’s Listening!

Last updated on: June 25, 2013 at 8:20 pm By texasmommy

A few months ago, my husband finished reading Tolkien’s The Hobbit to our boys. They loved, loved, loved it! Highly recommended read aloud! Then, at a mass, we heard the Gospel of the Prodigal Son, upon whose return the father placed a ring on his finger. Our 4 year old became wide eyed and in the fake whisper that is louder than his normal voice gasped, “Did he disappear?” Read more

How I’m Going To Survive Summer

Last updated on: June 20, 2013 at 4:51 am By Bethany "B-mama"

It’s happened. Last Friday my kids came a runnin’. Backpacks were emptied; lunch boxes stored away; school shoes placed on the lower closet shelf. Our family together breathed a collective sigh. Summer. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve definitely had moments where I’ve begun to panic thinking of all the family togetherness we’ll be having or wondering if I’ve inadvertently left something off of our summer schedule. One goal I’ve aimed for in planning this summer was SIMPLICITY. We are scheduling... Read more

Coveting Tidy

Last updated on: June 19, 2013 at 12:18 pm By Mary Alice

I’ve been thinking a lot about this whole “makers gotta mess” concept. I know that from a parenting standpoint, I do not want a picture perfect house in which the kids mostly watch TV because that is the least messy activity. I do want them to build huge awesome train tracks around their rooms, to save a box of acorn tops for a “someday” craft project, to McGyver old headphones and a book light into a pretend rock star mic,... Read more

High-top Sneakers

Last updated on: June 19, 2013 at 6:41 am By AWOL Mommy

By most accounts, I am a young mother. I had my first daughter at 22 and I still feel pretty hip at 31 years of age. However, I have certain style prejudices for “mother-age” women which are now coming into conflict with my own membership in this age group. OK, prepare to be alienated: I don’t even think women over 40 should have hair beyond their shoulders, it seems absurd. I am not sure about women above thirty wearing shorts... Read more

Staying Safe in the Summer Sun

Last updated on: June 17, 2013 at 12:49 pm By Katrina

We have been spending a lot of time out in the sun this summer, and this means that we have had to be extra careful about protecting our skin from those potentially-harmful rays. Our routine includes using a good quality sunblock on our bodies and a sunblock stick on our faces, making sure that we apply extra to our shoulders, nose, and ears, which are all susceptible to getting burned. The kids wear goggles in the pool and the adults... Read more

Little by little…

Last updated on: June 13, 2013 at 9:24 pm By Juris Mater

My just-turned-8 year old daughter survived her first Troop Tekakwitha overnight campout in the woods of Pennsylvania. And I survived the experience of letting her go. This past weekend, I confided in the Builders that I was uncomfortable with the camping trip. I went away to sleepover camp too young, and I spent about 20 too many nights camping with my family as a pre-teen… so childhood camping experiences left me with a bad aftertaste. Also, while I love running outdoors... Read more